Do I Need to Pay Plumber For Second Call Out?

LSunRays on 04/07/2016 - 22:24
Last edited 05/07/2016 - 08:25 by 1 other user

Hi ,
I am new to this forum and this is my first post, I need suggestions here.

2 weeks ago we found some gas smell near the bathroom in my house, I called a plumber, he told that he will charge $110 to investigate the problem since he needs to climb the roof. He also told that if the issue is small he can fix that immediately with in the same price.

He came to my house and he spent 10 minutes at my home, found the gas pipe bolt near the gas meter is not tight enough, some gas leaking there, he tighten the bolt and told me that there will not be any more problem.
I told him that the smell is near the bathroom, so to check the roof. He told that he is positive what he fixed. Said that there will not be any more leak.

He sent me invoice of $110, I paid next day. After 3 days, I felt the gas smell again near the bathroom, I called him,he came after a week and found leak near the bathroom roof, he fixed that, he spent 20 minutes.
He did not tell me anything about the charge,he sent me again invoice of $110, and he specified in the invoice he missed this in the first inspection

In this case do I required to pay the second invoice amount ?

Thanks,
Kiran M

Home & Garden

Comments

  • Qroozn on 04/07/2016 - 22:29
    +1

    Speak to him. What was your expectation when he made the second visit? Was there any discussion about cost before he came for the second visit?

  • SunRays on 04/07/2016 - 22:54

    Thank you Qroozn. No we don't have any discussion about the cost second time. As he told me initially that he will charge 110 to investigate the problem since he needs to climb the roof (neither he investigate anything on the roof nor climb the roof first time ), I was expecting that he will check the roof when I called him second time . Yes, I will speak to him.

  • Geekomatic on 04/07/2016 - 23:19

    What a typical, half-arsed call-out!

    No, I would personally not pay, & would email him a short letter of complaint.

    He should have caught/tested for any other leaks on the first visit. I mean, how hard is it to have a bottle of dish soap in water & a brush to wipe around the joints to check for leaks?

    You told him it was the bathroom area. It is that same area. He is wrong.

    Had it been a completely different area, maybe— but no, not right at all to charge you for his incompetence.

    Inho

  • poppit88 on 05/07/2016 - 00:06
    +4

    He got called out to fix the problem. He didn't fix it…….

    What is it with these tradesman, that they think they can charge twice!!

  • NotAMoodle on 05/07/2016 - 04:41

    If you go to the Doctor 3 times to get 1 issue sorted out (takes him 3 times to fix fully/properly) do you pay once? or do they make you pay every visit?

    Not saying it's the right thing what the tradie did, just food for thought.

    • Geewhizz on 05/07/2016 - 07:05
      +1

      Except that when he was there the firts time and tightened the nut/bold he was told the smell was coming from the bathroom and was asked to check in the roof, but didn't do so.

      • NotAMoodle on 05/07/2016 - 07:16

        My analogy still holds up, but like I said, I don't think it's the right thing the tradie did.

  • JimB on 05/07/2016 - 11:08

    I wouldn't pay.

    It should have been fixed the first time.

  • m00c0w on 05/07/2016 - 11:29

    Had a similar situation in the past. Plumber unblocked the drain with the metal snake and it clogged up again within 2 days. Spoke to him on the phone and he said it'd be another call out fee. Argued that he already charged me for the job and I'd report it to the Master Plumber Association. Was at my place within 30 minutes free of charge.

  • User78426 on 05/07/2016 - 13:11

    Maximum I would pay here is half of his call out fee. I would appreciate how he came back and fixed it. Its very hard to get tradies to return to re-do the work.

  • SunRays on 05/07/2016 - 15:58
    +1

    Thank you all for your suggestions and information. I just sent a mail to him as below

    I think it's extremely unfair that I am being charged twice because this problem could have been fixed the first time if you had properly checked the roof, as I advised.
    I mentioned many times that the gas smell is in the roof and can be smelt in the bathroom so it doesn't make sense to tighten a bolt at the meter and expect the problem to be fixed.
    Please reconsider your second invoice and advise accordingly.

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